Flush tank water level indicator



M. FANDERS FLUSH TANK WATER LEVEL INDICATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1958 Marten Fonda/s 1 N VE N TOR.

United States Patent ice FLUSH TANK WATER LEVEL INDICATOR Marten Fanders, Box 551, Beatrice, Nebr.

Filed Jan. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 712,014

'6 Claims. (Cl. 116-118) This invention relates to an attachment for a flush tank and more particularly to an appliance which warns against hidden leaks either at the valve or in the float of an ordinary flush tank.

An object of the present invention is to provide an appliance which functions as an attachment for flush tanks, the appliance having a float by which to sense the water level of the flush tank independent of the float valve float, together with an indicator by which a disrepair condition in the flush tank may be noticed. In this way the appreciable loss of water, resulting in higher water consumption, is easily avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical attachment which is both neat and sightly, the attachment capable of being used with high or low types of flush tanks with equal facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appliance for a flush tank, the appliance having a support which fits beneath the lid of the flush tank and which mounts a float arm and indicator for oscillation. The indicator shows from beneath the edge of the lid of the flush tank when the water level in the flush tank is above proper height for the full condition of the flush tank.

One of the variant features of the invention is the support for the float arm and indicator. In one embodiment of the invention the support is made of light weight thin gauge metal or plastic and clamps onto the upper edge part of the tank. In another form of the invention the support is made of wire or wire like material and it functions in a manner identical to the functioning of the nonwire support. In either instance the support can be constructed very inexpensively and this holds true for either of the illustrated embodiments of the invention.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated forms of the invention.

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view of a flush tank with one of the appliances thereon, parts of the flush tank being broken away in section to illustrate otherwise hidden detail.

Figure 2 is a top view of the flush tank fragment of Figure 1 with parts broken away to more clearly show the appliance.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, parts shown in section, of a flush tank with a second embodiment of the invention thereon.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the appliance shown in Figure 4.

The drawing shows flush tank that has an open top and a lid or cover 14 separably mounted over the open top of tank 10. Depending flange 16 fits alongside of the outer surface of the upper edge parts of the side walls of tank 10. This is an ordinary construction commonly found in flush tanks.

It is not uncommon to have the ordinary float of a float valve in a conventional flush tank bmome submerged due 2,947,280 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 to a leak in the float. When submerged, water will con tinue to flow into the flush tank and will be carried away by the overflow tube 12. This is noisy and can result in a considerable loss of water. When this happens the water will leak directly past the ball valve and flow into the discharge pipe. In this faulty condition of the flush tank mechanism, the water level will be elevated from the normal position as at 14 to the high level 18 above which the water losing condition will exist in tank 10.

The attachment or appliance 20 is composed of a support 22 and an indicator and float 24. Support 22 has an essentially flat top wall 26, an inner side wall 28 and an outer side wall 30. Side walls 28 and 30 are parallel while wall 26 is perpendicular to and connected to them. The cross-sectional shape of support 22 is inverted U-shaped so that the support fits over the upper edge part of a wall of the flush tank. The support functions as a saddle fitting over this part of the flush tank.

Lateral flange 32 protrudes at right angles from the lower edge of wall 30 and has the flange 16 of lid 14 thereon. (Figure 3.) Flange 32 (Figure 2) terminates at a location spaced inwardly from one end of wall 26 to provide clearance for the movement of indicator 34. A sleeve 36 is formed at one end of the top wall and functions as a bearing for the spindle 38 that connects indicator 34 with float arm 40. The float arm extends at right angles from an end of spindle 38, while indicator 34 extends at right angles from the opposite end of spindle 38. Float .arm 40, spindle 38 and indicator 34 is preferably made in one piece with spindle 38 extending across the upper top edge part of the front wall of flush tank 10.

A flat float 42, for example a disk made of cork, is on float arm 40 near an end thereof. The float 42 is made flat so that it occupies a very small space in flush tank 10. The float can rise and fall with the water level in the flush tank. The lowermost position of the travel of float arm 40 is established by stop 44 which protrudes laterally from wall 28 of support 22.

In Figures 4 and 5 there is an attachment or appliance 20a fited on a wall of flush tank 10a and beneath its lid or cover 14a. Attachment or appliance 20a is made of a support 22a together with an indicator and float 24a. The indicator and float 24a includes a float arm 40a and pointer or indicator 34a connected together by a spindle 38a. This is the same as the corresponding indicator and float of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Support 220 is made of a single piece of wire or wirelike material. It has, at one end, a downwardly opening substantially U-shaped part 60 and at the opposite end a substantially U-shaped and downwardly opening part 62. These parts 60 and 62, together, respond to the downwardly opening U-shaped support of Figure 1.

A sleeve 36a functioning as a bearing for spindle 38a, is formed between the ends of the single piece of wire or wire-like material from which support 22a is constructed. A laterally extending loop 64 responds to stop 44 of Fignre 1 and is formed between the ends of the wire or wirelike material. Float 42a is at the outer end of arm 24a and is adapted to rise and fall with the water level in the flush tank 10a.

The operation of both embodiments of the invention is the same. As the water level rises above the correct water level for any reason including those of faulty mechanisms in the flush tank, float arms 40 or 40a are elevated by the buoyance of float 42 or 42a. The indicators that are ordinarily hidden behind flange 16 are lowered and become visible. The result is that an improperly high water level condition in the flush tank is signalled by indicator 34 or 34a. When the indicator is not showing the water level in the flush tank is proper.

The indicator may be made of a material which will attract attention or may be painted or otherwise surface treated or coated for this purpose. In addition, it is within the purview of the invention to have graduations or like indicia or indicating devices with which the indicators coact to show degrees of liquid level condition in the flush tank.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:.

1. In an appliance to show a highliquid level condition in a flush tank that has an overflow tube, ,walls and a cover provided with a dependinglflange and which has a proper liquid ilevel, the combination of a support disposed on the upper edge of one of the flush tank walls, a float arm, a spindle fixed to said float arm, a hearing at one edge of said support within which said spindle is mounted for oscillation, an indicator fixed'to said spindle and located in a concealed position and flush between the outer surface of said Wall of the flush tank and a part of the flange of the cover so that as said float arm is moved in an upward direction in accordance with the elevating of theliquid level in the tank beyond said proper level said indicator is moved from between said part of said flush tank wall and the cover flange to signal a water level condition at which water will be lost into said overflow tube.

2. In an appliance to show a high liquid level condition in a flush tank that has an overflow tube, walls and a cover provided with a depending flange and which has a proper liquid level, the combination of a' support disposed on the upper edge of one of the flush tank walls, a

a float arm, a spindle fixed to said float arm, ajbeaZring at one edge of said support whichsaid'spindle' is I mounted for oscillatiomanjndicator fixedto said spindle and located in a concealed position and flush between the outer surface of said wall of the flush tank and a part of the flange of the cover so that as said float is moved in an upward direction in accordance withj'the elevating of the liquid level in 'l the tankbeyond said' properleivel said indicator is moved trom between said part'of said flush tank wall and the cover flange to signal a water level condition at which water will be lost into said overflow tube, said support having sides and a top wall, said sides disposed on the inside and outside surfaces respectively of said wall of said flush tank, and said top wall located on the upper edge of said flush tank wall.

3. The appliance of claim 2 wherein said bearing is associated with said top wall of said support and said spindle extends transversely across said wall of said flush tank.

4. In an appliance to show a high liquid level condition in a flush tank that has walls and a cover, the combination of a support disposed on the upper edge of the flush tank wall, afloat arm, a spindle fixed to said float arm, a hearing at one edge of said support within which said spindle is mounted for oscillation, an indicator fixed to said spindle and located in a concealed position and flush between the outer surface of said wall of the flush tank and a part of the cover so that as said float arm is moved in one direction in accordance with the liquid level in the tank said indicator is moved from between said part of said flush tank wall and the cover, said support having side portions and a top wall portion, said side portions on the inside and outside surfaces respectively of said wall of said flush tank and said top Wall portion located on the upper edge of said flush tank wall, and a stop protruding laterally therefrom to limit the travel of said float arm in one direction.

5. The appliance of claim 2 wherein said support has sides with a stop protruding laterally from one of said sides and against which said float arm is adapted to contact to establish a limit for the travel of said float arm in one direction.

6. The appliance of claim 4 wherein said support side portions and top wall portion are constructed of wire.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,072,819 Bush Sept. 9, 1913 1,083,978 Young Jan. 13, 1914 1,123,819 Twibell Jan. 5, 1915 1,182,251 Comeau May 9, 1916 1,423,411 Finch July 18, 1922 2,018,169 Williams Oct. 22, 1935 

